When setting up a home gym, consider barbell to be its centerpiece. On the surface, it seem like nothing more than a metal bar with a few hole on either end. But once you pick it up, you realize there’s no such thing as a “one-size-fits-all” bar.
Your form, grip and, in some cases… Equipment can suffers if you’re not careful about selecting the right one. A common misconception among novices is that if it fit in their squat rack, then it’s acceptable.
That will cost you. A bar change significantly based off its tensile strength, knurling pattern and diameter. Before purchasing one, get familiar with these three primary category.
How to Choose the Best Home Gym Bar
Olympic Bars
Olympic bars are the real deal for serious lifting. You’ll spot them in professional powerlifting competitions and CrossFit boxes everywhere. Male bars is exactly 28.5 inches in diameter, while female bars are 25.2 inches.
Their sleeves rotate freely to protect your wrists when performing Olympic lifts such as the clean and jerk or snatch. What about the steel? A good Olympic bar will be rated at minimum a hundred ninety thousand PSI in tensile strength.
That mean that when you load it up with some serious weight, this bar won’t stay bent. Ivanko, Eleiko, and Rogue are all brands who makes several different bars. Some is more stiff for powerlifters and some more flexible for Olympic lifters.
It just comes down to what sport you plan on doing.
Standard Home Gym Bars
But then there’s bar beast: the standard home gym bar. These come in a package with your basic squat rack, or sometimes as part of a bundle with cheap dumbbells.
Most of the time they’re 30 millimeter, meaning they’re thicker and tougher to hold onto than Olympic bars. The sleeves don’t spin. That’s great news if you plan on deadlifting and squatting.
It is not so much when doing overhead work. Most standard bar plates comes with a one-inch sleeve hole. That restricts the types of plate you can load on there.
If you have a couple of different brand of weights you want to mix and match, you won’t be able to do that. Most standard bars is generally made of lower grade steel. Drop ’em, load ’em up too heavy and what’s going to happen?
Yep, they’ll bend. It is no biggie for a light to moderate workout. But if you’re looking to train hard, this ain’t it.
Specialty Bars
Then there are specialty bars that round things out and fill in some gaps. There’s the axle bar, the safety squat bar, and the trap bar. For deadlifts, the latter is a game changer.
Because it positions the weight nearer to your center of gravity, it decreases the sheer force on your lower back, and it feel more natural than a straight bar. The safety squat bars features outside handles which move the weight away from your shoulders and towards your hips. For those with shoulder mobility issues, this can be a lifesaver.
The axle bars is non-bending and thick. Their large diameter will build incredible forearm strength. These are all tools that address certain problems.
They’re not meant as a replacement for a main bar; rather, they’re meant to supplement your routine.
Choosing the Right Bar
Now here’s where you need to make a decision: Which would be better? Well, if you’re looking to spend some money and have the room, go with an Olympic bar.
You’ll never have to buy another one. They’re versatile and they’ll hold up for decades. On a strict budget?
A good ole’ standard bar will work until you can afford something better. But understand its limitations. Don’t expect to max out on a cheap bar.
You’ll regret it. Specialty bars? Leave that for later.
Wait until you’ve built a firm foundation first. Keep it simple. Learn the movements.
Then build from there. The lift feels good when you use the right bar, every rep feels like a struggle with the wrong bar. First things first: assess what you have.
What size hole are in your weight plates? Are they one inch? They is standard.
Are they two inches? Go with the olympic setup. Mixing systems leads to both clutter and confusion.
Keep things simple in your gym. What are your objectives? If you’re competing, get an olympic bar.
If you’re trying to maintain fitness? Perhaps you can gets by with a regular bar. Have joint problems?
Maybe look into a specialty bar. The answer isn’t one size fits all. It’s one size fit you.
Final Purchasing Advice
This is a long term commitment, so take your time making this decision. You’re going to be using this tool every day, and a good bar are an important tool. Make sure it feel right in your hands.
If you can test one, do it. Lift it. See how it spins.
How does it feel? Your body will tell you what it needs. Listen to it.
First, let’s talk gear. Get the right stuff. Make an investment in yourself.
Invest in what is going to hold up as you grow. Invest in core and don’t skimp. You’ll thank your future self when you’re lifting those big weights.
It doesn’t have to be complicated. It just has to be solid. And lift smart.
